WikiDumper: The Official Appreciation Page for the Best of the Wikipedia Rejects. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” (Edited by Cliff Pickover, www.pickover.com, author of "The Math Book.")

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Omega Point (Tipler)

The Omega Point is a term used by Tulane University professor of mathematics and physics Frank J. Tipler to describe a hypothetical cosmological scenario in the far future of the Universe. According to the omega point theory, as the Universe comes to an end in a Big Crunch, the computational capacity of the Universe is capable of increasing at a sufficient rate that this computation rate is acceleratingexponentially faster than time runs out. In principle, a simulation run on this Universe-computer can thus continue forever in its own terms, even though the external Universe lasts only a finite time. This theory assumes that certain cosmological variables prove that the universe will eventually contract, and that there will be intelligent civilizations in existence at the appropriate time to exploit the computational capacity of such an environment.

Tipler identifies this asymptotic state of infinite information capacity with God. The implication of this theory for present-day humans is that this ultimate cosmic computer will essentially be able to resurrect everyone who has ever lived, by recreating all possible quantum brain states within the master simulation. This would manifest as a simulated reality, except without the necessity for physical bodies in "reality". From the perspective of the inhabitant, the Omega Point represents an infinite-duration afterlife, which could take any imaginable form due to its virtual nature.

From the bold to the beautiful, from the wicked to the wise,
every day the Wikipedia team relegates possibly "inappropriate"
submissions to the garbage dump of time.
Here, we make selected "potential" rejects immortal and preserve them for posterity.
(All of these entries have been nominated for deletion at the time of posting.)

Is your
entry
about to be deleted from Wikipedia? I’ll give you a second chance.